Wheel lock

ABSTRACT

A wheel lock wherein a lock bar has a stem with an eye on one end and a retainer arm on the other end extending at a right angle from the stem, the stem extends through an opening in a wheel hub and the retainer arm is located at the inboard side of the hub, a lock bail extends through the wheel axle and through the eye of the lock bar.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,763,674 Zahner 5] Oct. 9, W73

[ WHEEL LOCK 925,810 6/1909 Hopping 70/226 I76] Inventor: Bruce M.'lluhner, I913 Monoviz Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627 [22] Filed; J n16, 1971 Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn A N pp. No: 153,676 ttorneyewton H Lee Jr 2 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US; Cl. 70/226 A wheel lock whereina lock bar has a stem with an [51] Int. Cl. B601 25/00, B62h 5/14 eye onone end and a retainer arm on the other end [58] Field of Search..70/225227, 233, 236 extending at a right angle from the stem, thestern extends through an opening in a wheel hub and the re tainer arm islocated at the inboard side of the hub, a References Clted lock bailextends through the wheel axle and through UNITED STATES PATENTS the eyeof the lock bar. 1,305,563 6/1919 Poland 70/226 7 Claims, 8 DrawingFigures SHEET 10F 2 PAIENTED DU 9 I975 INVENTOR @fl/GE M ZA H/VEE $94MKL, X

PATENTED OCT 9 I973 SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR, 550a? M ZAH/WEE WHEEL LOCKBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Motorcycling in recent years has beenincreasing in popularity so that there exists a large number ofmotorcycles, the owners of which use their motorcycle for generaltransportation and/or pleasure or sport. Thus, parking lots may at anygiven time have a considerable number of motorcycles parkedthereoon. Inaddition, motorcyclists, from time to time, gather at special events, sothat large numbers of motorcycles may be parked in a group.

As the popularity of motorcycles increases and the number of motorcyclesparked on lots or at special events increases, the hazard ofunauthorized use or theft has also increased. Typically, the safetyfeatures of a motorcycle adapted to prevent unauthorized use or thefthave comprised a key operated locking pin which is engaged in an openingin the front wheel steering post to lock the front wheel at an angle tothe frame, as well as a key locked ignition switch for the engine.Neither of such conventional locking means is satisfactory, inthat thesteering post lock pin can be sheared by forcing the handle bars to thecenter position, and the lock on the ignition system may be manuallybroken or the switch by-passed.

Thus, another conventional mode of locking motorcycles has involved theuse of a length of chain which can be used in combination with a lock tosecure the motorcycle to a post or other fixed element or to lock awheel of the motorcycle to the frame. Such claims are not whollysatisfactory, however, since they can usually be cut.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves a novel andrugged locking device by which the wheel of a motorcycle, or the like,can be locked against rotation, so that even in the event that thecustomary locking devices, such as the steering post lock and theignition switch lock, are not in use or are overcome, the vehicle isnevertheless locked against rolling and therefore comparatively safefrom theft or unauthorized use.

More particularly, the invention provides a lock bar, usedin combinationwith a lock to lock awheel against rotation in a novel manner, the lockbar being secured to a stationary portion of the vehicle and engaging a'portion of the wheel hub, and the lock bar and lock being such thatthey are not conveniently subject to cutting or other destruction.

In accomplishing the foregoing, the lock bar is constructed in such amanner that it has a stem provided at one end with an arm extending at aright angle from the stem and an eye at the other end of the stem. Thearm is adapted to be inserted into an opening in a portion of the hub ofa wheel and the bar then turned, so that the arm extends behind the hubportion and the stem projects through the opening in the hub portion todispose the eye at alocation at which the hail of a lock is insertablethrough the eye and the lock closed to connect the lock bar to astationary portion of the vehicle.

Certain well known motorcycles have wheels, both front and rear, whichhave hub portions inthe form of a pair of discs to which the inner endsof the usual wheel spokes are attached, and which have a number ofcircumferentially spaced bolt holes adapted to receive bolts for thepurpose of securing one of the discs to a brake drum or drive sprocket.Such discs, then, inherently provide at the side of the wheel oppositeto thev brake drum or sprocket, a number of circumferentially spacedbar, adapted to receive the lock ar, and the vehicle has a portionadapted to accommodate a lock, the bail of which passes through the eyeof the lock bar.

In the case of a front wheel lock, the lock bail preferably extendsthrough an opening in the end of the wheel axle; while in the case of arear wheel lock, the lock bail may engage a portion of the wheelsupporting frame. In either case, the wheel is held against rotation.When the lock bar and the lock bail are composed of material that cannotbe easily cut, such as spring steel, the motorcycle is, clearly, safefrom theft or unauthorized use.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other purposeswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of forms inwhich it may be embodied. These forms are shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. They willnow bedescribed in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed descriptions are not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view inelevation, with portions broken away to show the application of thewheel lock of the invention to the front wheel of a motorcycle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the lock bar of the invention as used in thefront wheel lock of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan of the lock bar of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating theapplication of the wheel lock of the invention to the rear wheel of amotorcycle;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of the lock bar of the invention as used in therear wheel lock of FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is a plan of the lock bar of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. Ithrough 4, the front wheel W of a motorcycle is shown as being supportedbetween the posts l0, 10 of the usual fork of the vehicle, and rotatableon an axle l l is secured to the lower ends of the' posts 10 by clampsl2 and the axle extends through the hub assembly 13 of the wheel.Included in the hub assembly 13 is the usual brake drum 14.

Certain wheels of motorcycles have a hub assembly like that shown,including a pair of axially spaced discs, one of which is shown at 15,and the other of which, not shown, is connected to the brake drum 14.The wheel spokes 16 are attached at their inner ends to the outerperipheries of the discs 15. These discs 15 are customarily eachprovided with a number of circumferentially spaced bolt holes adaptingeach of the discs 15 for connection to the brake drum 14, so that thedisc 15 shown in the drawings whichis not attached to the brake drum hasthe bolt holes 17 free to accommodate the wheel locking bar of theinvention as generally denoted at B.

This lock bar has an elongated body or stem 18 at one end of which is aretainer arm 19 disposed at a right angle to the stem 18, and at theother end of the stem 18 is formed an eye 20. Preferably, the lock bar13 is composed of material which is hard to cut, such as spring steelbent to the illustrated or equivalent shape.

In any event, the retainer or arm portion 19 of the lock bar B isadapted to be inserted through a selected bolt hole 17 of the hub discand the bar is then positioned so that the retainer or arm 19 isdisposed on the inboard side of the disc 15 with the stem extendingoutwardly through the selected bolt hole 17 in substantially parallelrelation to the axle 11.

With the lock bar B so positioned, the eye 20 is adapted to receive oneside ofa bail 21 ofa safety lock L which may be of the key orcombination type. The bail 21 also extends through a hole 22 in theouter end of the axle 11 so that, when the lock L is closed, asillustrated, the lock bar B is effectively affixed at its eye and 20 tothe axle 11. Thus, the wheel W is locked by the bar B against rotationabout the axle, and the motorcycle is effectively locked against theftor unauthorized use.

In the illustration, the locking means is shown as applied to a frontwheel of a typical motorcycle for which certain accessories areavailable, such as a decorative hub cap (not shown) and an axle end cap(not shown). It will be understood, without need for illustration thatthe hub cap which is attached to the disc 15 may be provided with anappropriate elongated slot to allow insertion of the lock bar B throughsuch slot and into the disc opening 17. It will also be understood thatthe axle end cap may be suitably notched to accommodate the lock bail21.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 8, a rear wheel assembly is shown, inwhich the wheel W is revolvable about the rear axle l1 1 which is fixedbetween laterally spaced frame members 1 10, l 10. In this case, thebrake drum 114 has a drive sprocket 114a connected thereto for drivingengagement by the usual drive chian 1141:. The hub 113, as in thepreviously described embodiment, also includes the hub disc 115 to whichthe inner ends of the spokes 116 are attached, and the disc 115 has aplurality of circumferentially spaced bolt holes 117, like the holes 17previously described.

In this embodiment, the lock bar B also has a stem or body 118 providedwith a retainer or arm 119 extending at a right angle from one end ofthe stem and an eye 120 at the other end of the stem. Here, the stem isshorter than in the previously described embodiment, in order to beapplicable between the hub disc 115 and a portion of the fixed framemember 110 which are closer than in the front wheel assembly.

With the lock bar inserted through a selected bolt hole 117 of the hubdisc 1 15, so that the retainer or arm 119 is inboard of the disc 115and the stem extends horizontally into overlying relation to the framemember 110, the bail 121 of the lock L is adapted to extend through theeye 120 of the lock bar and around the frame member 110, so that whenthe lock l is applied the wheel W is effectively locked to the framemember against rotation. Here again the lock bar is preferably composedof spring steel so as to be difficult to cut.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides anovel locking means for the wheels of vehicles, such as motorcycleshaving a member rotatable with the wheel and providing at least oneopening like the openings 17 and 117 to receive a lock bar, and whilethe hub discs 15 and are typical in certain makes of motorcycles, it isconceivable that other wheels may be adapted to receive the lock bar, ifdesired.

I claim:

I. In a vehicle wheel lock: a wheel having a member rotatably with thewheel and providing an opening, said vehicle having a stationary portionadjacent to said wheel, a lock bar having a stem, a retainer arm on oneend of said stem adapted to be inserted through and removed from saidopening said arm being disposed on the inboard side of said member withsaid stem extending outwardly through and closely fitting in saidopening, and a lock having a bail directly interconnected with the outerend of said stem and said stationary portion and locking said lock barto said stationary portion and holding said wheel against rotation.

2. In a vehicle wheel lock as defined in claim 1, and an eye on theouter end of said stem receiving said lock bail.

3. In a vehicle wheel lock as defined in claim 1, said stationaryportion comprising a fixed axle rotatably supporting said memberrotatable with the wheel, said axle having an opening therethrough andsaid bail extending through said opening in said axle.

4. in a vehicle wheel lock as defined in claim I, said stationaryportion comprising a frame member supporting the wheel, and said bailextending about said frame member.

5. In a lock for vehicle wheels, a stationary portion, a wheel having anaxle supported by said stationary portion, said wheel having a hub discprovided with a number of openings spaced circumferentially about saidaxle, a lock bar having a stem and a retainer arm projecting from saidstem, said retainer arm being disposed inboard of said hub disc withsaid stem extending through and closely fitting in one of said openings,and a lock having a bail directly interconnected with the outer end ofsaid stem and with said stationary portion for holding said stem andlocking said wheel against rotation.

6. In a lock for vehicle wheels as defined in claim 5, said axle havingan opening therethrough, the outer end of said stem having an eye, andsaid lock having a bail extended through said opening in said axle andsaid eye.

7. In a lock for vehicle wheels as defined in claim 5, the outer end ofsaid stem having an eye, and said lock having a bail extending aboutsaid stationary portion and through said eye.

1. In a vehicle wheel lock: a wheel having a member rotatable with thewheel and providing an opening, said vehicle having a stationary portionadjacent to said wheel, a lock bar having a stem, a retainer arm on oneend of said stem adapted to be inserted through and removed from saidopening said arm being disposed on the inboard side of said member withsaid stem extending outwardly through and closely fitting in saidopening, and a lock having a bail directly interconnected with the outerend of said stem and said stationary portion and locking said lock barto said stationary portion and holding said wheel against rotation. 2.In a vehicle wheel lock as defined in claim 1, and an eye on the outerend of said stem receiving said lock bail.
 3. In a vehicle wheel lock asdefined in claim 1, said stationary portion comprising a fixed axlerotatably supportinG said member rotatable with the wheel, said axlehaving an opening therethrough and said bail extending through saidopening in said axle.
 4. In a vehicle wheel lock as defined in claim 1,said stationary portion comprising a frame member supporting the wheel,and said bail extending about said frame member.
 5. In a lock forvehicle wheels, a stationary portion, a wheel having an axle supportedby said stationary portion, said wheel having a hub disc provided with anumber of openings spaced circumferentially about said axle, a lock barhaving a stem and a retainer arm projecting from said stem, saidretainer arm being disposed inboard of said hub disc with said stemextending through and closely fitting in one of said openings, and alock having a bail directly interconnected with the outer end of saidstem and with said stationary portion for holding said stem and lockingsaid wheel against rotation.
 6. In a lock for vehicle wheels as definedin claim 5, said axle having an opening therethrough, the outer end ofsaid stem having an eye, and said lock having a bail extended throughsaid opening in said axle and said eye.
 7. In a lock for vehicle wheelsas defined in claim 5, the outer end of said stem having an eye, andsaid lock having a bail extending about said stationary portion andthrough said eye.